Scott Township auctioning off 1972 Triumph Spitfire to help community

Call it a classic way to raise money.

Scott Township is currently auctioning off a classic two-passenger British sports car, a 1972 Triumph Spitfire IV. All of the proceeds from the auction will go to Scott Township and can be used for the likes of road maintenance, community programs and setting up local events for residents.

Despite being 50 years old, this particular Triumph Spitfire IV has only 13,214 miles on it. It was stored for 30 years and then removed from a building scheduled for demolition.

“After investigating and going through the building a little bit, our code enforcement officer discovered some items that had some value that we may be able to use to offset the cost of the demolition,” said Bert Smelko, public works foreman for Scott Township. “That’s how the township came into possession of the car.”

A press release publicizing the auction said the car “needs some work,” which may be an understatement.

“The inspection sticker on it says May of ’92, so it hasn’t been running since at least that long,” said Smelko. “The body is in not too bad a shape because it was kept inside. The inside of it is torn up pretty good. It’s not in good condition, but it has potential if somebody wants to restore it.”

Automobiles like the Triumph Spitfire, named for the World War II fighter plane, can be a hot item for some vintage car collectors, especially since the last Triumph was made in 1980. But Jim Keenan, vice president of the Western PA Triumph Association, said he has some reservations about this particular make and model.

“Unfortunately, as the Triumph pecking order goes, the Spitfires are pretty low on the totem pole. The only one that’s less desirable would be the TR-7, one of the last cars they made,” he said. “They’re not worth a whole lot of money, even very nice ones.

“An $1,800 bid for a car that’s not running is amazing to me. You’re not even sure the engine turns over. But the Spitfires are a fun little car and they have their own little following.”

Pennsylvania residents are able to bid online on www.municibid.com.